Control for hydraulic presses



Nam, 5, 394%. E. CANNON 9 9 CONTROL FOR HYDRAULIC PRESSES Filed June 30, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR F/i/PA C/m A/aAA- BY New 5 3%2 E. CANNGN CONTROL FOR HYDRAULIC PRESSES Filed June so, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I rk av. 5, 1946. CANNON ZAiQjiZ CONTROL FOR HYDRAULIC PRESSES Filed June so, 1943 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR -8Mc Cay/vau Fly-5 Patented ov. 5, 1946 CONTROL FOR HYDRAULIC raassas Earl Cannon, Rockville Centre, N. Y., assignor to E. W. Bliss Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporati on of Delaware Application June 30, 1943, Serial No. 492,863 23 Claims. (Cl. 12141) 1 This invention relates .to operating controls for hydraulic presses of the character which enable a press operator to cause the reciprocating platen or slide of a hydraulic press to pursue a partial stroke in either of opposite directions and to control, very easily, the amplitude of such a partial stroke with a high degree of precision. Press operation adapted to yield such a partial stroke is referred to hereinafter as inching operation. More particularly, the invention relates to electrical inching controls for hydraulic presses having the mentioned attribute of precision control and which, also are adapted for easy conversion from control of inching operation of the press to control of normal press operation which may be fully or partly automatic.

The obiects of the intention and important principles employed therein displacement thereof in order to convert the press from inching to normal operation, or vice versa. The foregoing objects and others which may be perceived from the following specification and" the accompanying drawings are achieved, according to the present invention, by providing means for controlling normal operation of the press and an electrical inching control system which may, if desired, comprise portions of the mentioned normal control system, and in which circuits, controlling the inching movement of the press slide, may be established or broken by the movement of the slide relatively to certain portions of apparatus comprising the inching control system. Among expedients available for the purpose, photoelectric cells may be employed advantaegously in circuits of suchinching control systems and the-light rays controlling the operation of said cells may either be intercepted or passed by a, member arranged to operate as a shutter in response to movement of the press slide.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hydraulic press, including inching control apparatus,

fords substantially a side elevational view of such apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly broken away, of certain important mechanisms illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view substanaliy on the irregular lines 33 of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the lines 4-4 of Figs. 1, 2, and 3; v

Fig. 5 is a diagram of a hydraulic press system according to the present invention, including electric controls for both normal and inching operation of a press; and

Fig. 6- is a vertical sectional view, of substantially the same character as Fig. 4, illustrating portions of a second embodiment of the invention.

General description of press and inching control apparatus Referring first to Fig. 1, the hydraulic press may reciprocate a ram It on the lower end of which is fixed a horizontal slide l5 which may be guided by jibs It. The side pieces l2, themselves, may serve directly as the connection between the base and crown of the press, or, if desired, the said side pieces may serve as spacing members within which may be disposed suitable tie rods I! which, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5, may be secured to both the base and crown of the press in a well understood manner. Also, if desired, the side pieces l2 may be omitted and the tie rods adapted to serveboth as spacing members and tie rods or tension members.

The mechanism which responds directly to control by the operator comprises a broadened traveling nut l8, threaded upon a vertical screw I9, unthreaded portions at or near the ends of which are retained within suitable thrust bearings in brackets 20 and 2|, fixed upon the side of the press, preferably at the crown and base thereof, respectively. The screw l9 may be rotated conveniently, by the press operator, by means of a hand wheel 22 which is suitably keyed to one end of and turns a shaft 23, to the other end of which is keyed a bevel gear 24 which meshes with and drives a bevel gear 25 with which the screw I9 is constrained to turn. The

traveling nut I8 is constrained against rotating a which, although in perspective, nevertheless af-' 5 or upon the brackets 20, 2| and extends, with a sliding fit, through a suitable vertical bore in the nut l8; hence, rotation of the handwheel 22, by the operator, causes the nut l8 to travel up or down upon the screw l9, depending upon the direction in which the handwheel is turned.

On the adjacent end of the slide l or upon an extension 21 fixed or formed thereon, there may be fixedly mounted a pair of toggle switches 28, 29 and a pair of photoelectric cell assemblies 30, 35, all adapted to coact, in a manner hereinafter explained, with certain members fixed upon the traveling nut l8.

The two mentioned cell assemblies may be carried, in superposed relationship, upon a bracket 40 which is fixed to the extension 2'! of the press slide. A vertical opaque shutter member 38 is fixed upon one side of the traveling nut i8 adjacent the cell assemblies, and extends between photo-electric cells 3|, 36 of the two cell assemblies, and light sources in said assemblies in the form of incandescent lamps 32, 31', The said shutter, preferably, is of such vertical dimension as to be barely capable of instantaneously blocking off the passage of light from both said lamps to their related cells and to permit passage of light to one or the other of said cells upon being moved upwardly or downwardly relatively to the latter. The several mentioned cells and lamps, preferably, are mounted within box-like housings 33, which are fixed upon the bracket 40 and are provided with opposed apertures 34 which, except when closed off by the shutter 38, are adapted to pass light rays between the related lamps and cells,

The toggle switches 28, 29, have V-shaped pivotally movable operating members 28a, 29a, respectively, which are so disposed in the line of movement of an actuating pin 4| fixed to and extending inwardly from the traveling nut |B that, when said nut is moved downwardly on screw [9 by turning of the wheel 22, the pin 4| may engage the'lower arm of the operating member 29a and-impart a snap movement thereto to shift it from its solid line position, (Fig. 2) in which the switch 29 is closed, to its broken line position, in which said switch is open. A subsequent reverse movement of said nut causes the pin 4| to engage the upper arm of the member 29:: to close the switch 29. Likewise when the nut I8 is moved upwardly on the screw I9, the pin 4| may actuate the member 28a to open theswitch 28 and a subsequent reverse or downward movement causes the pin 4| to close the switch 28. As hereinafter explained, operation of the apparatus may be such that the pin 4| will remain between and out of engagement with the operating members m and 29a, thereby leaving both switches 28 and 29 in their normally,

closed positions.

Hydraulic system for operating the press 4 chambers 55, 56 are connected by a pipe line 51 to the tank 52.

The distribution of liquid through the valve 49 is controlled by the movement of a piston 49a comprising a shank 58 and piston heads 59, 8|].

and GI, preferably formed integrally upon said shank in suitable spaced relationship. Lateral passages 62, 63, 64, extend diametrically completely through said piston heads and are connected by a longitudinal passage 65 within the shank 58.

The piston 490. may be shifted to upper or lower extreme positions by oppositely actin electric solenoids 66, 61 which are coupled by a link 68, and both connected by a link 69 to one end of a lever 10, fulcrumed, at an intermediate point thereof, upon a bracket 1| which may be mounted upon the casing of the valve 49. The other end of the lever I0 is connected, by a link 12, to the protruding upper end of the piston 49a. When neither of said solenoids is energized, the piston may be held yieldably in a center or neutral position by a suitable centering spring device 13 enclosed within the lower end of the casing of the valve 49.

When the piston 49a is in its lowermost position, the several piston heads 59, 60, 6| guide liquid from the pump 50, into the ram advance chamber 43 to yield a down or advance stroke of the press slide I5 the liquid from return chamber 44, meanwhile, exhausting through the valve 49 into the tank 52- When the piston is in its uppermost position, the several piston heads guide liquid from the pump, into the return chamber to yield an up or return stroke of the slide, the liquid from the advance chamber, meanwhile, exhausting through the valve 49 into the tank. When the piston is in its center or neutral position as shown in Fig. 5, the liquid from the pump passes into lateral passage 63, and thence, through longitudinal passage 65, and lateral passages 82, 84 into the pipe line 51 which carries it to the tank, hence, when the piston 49a is in itscenter position the slide I5 is not hydraulically actuated in either direction.

The press system as a whole The press system may be understood, practically in its entirety, by reference to Fig. 5, which 60 includes not ,only the apparatus already described in detail but also an electric system for controlling the press.

For the sake of simplicity, in Fig. 5, certain electric switch contactor controlling relays, in-

55 stead of being shown in their assembled relationship with their contactors in proper juxtaposition with reference to the coils operating them, are shown with the coils in their clearly defined circuits and the contactors in circuits, also clear- 1y defined, which they control.

mally closed contactors (i. e., closed when the related coil is deenergized) further, are identified by a diagonal line crossing said parallel lines, and normally open contactors are identified bythe absence of such a diagonal line. The reference 7 character applied to each'of such contactors ina tank 52, which may conveniently be constructed.

upon the top of, the press, and discharges such liquid, through a pipe line 52, into an annular chamber I4 in the valve 49. A pair'of annular eludes the number used as the reference character of the relay coil controlling its operation;

and the reference characters of different con 'tinguishing sufllxes, a, b, c, etc.

and operated by its related dog) and switch 15 is normally open. Dog ll may be in the form of a side portion of an elongated sleeve 80 and the dog 19 may comprise a short sleeve, said sleeves being slidalble upon a vertical reciprocating rod 8i and adapted to be held in any desired position upon said rod by set screws 82, 83, respectively, or by other suitable holding means.

' The dog 18 may be pivotally mounted upon the sleeve 80 to pivot between the operative position i shown in full lines, in which it may operate the switch 15, and an inoperative position shown in broken lines in which its path of verticalmovement is clear of the operating arm of said switch and, hence, may not operate the latter. Suitable locking means are provided, of course, to hold the dog it in either of the two mentioned positions. The rod 8! works within guide collars 8t, 85 fixed to non-movable side portions of the press and is constrained to reciprocate with the press slide i by being fixed to one side of the latter .or an extension thereof as, for example, by a lateral extension rod 86.

A pressure actuated electric switch 89 is con-.

nected to 'the pipe line $5. The contacts of this switch are normally closed to complete an electric circuit according to the diagram except when the pressure in the ram advance chamber it rises above a predetermined pressure, at which the said switch'may be adjusted to respond and open said circuit.

Automatic operation of the press system Let it be assumed that the press is idle, has been properly fitted with dies, and that it is desired to cause automatic operation of the press wherein the slide l5 will automatically reciprocate to close and open the press repeatedly until stopped by the operator. The operator first makes certain that the pivotal dog 18 is in the operative position thereof, indicated in full lines in Fig. 5 and that the run-jog switch 81 is set at run? position. It may be assumed, also, that all parts of the press ancl the hydraulic system are at rest in the positions shown in said figure.

This first circuit energizes coil m0, thereby closing contactor 80th to bridge switch t8 and thus maintain said circuitaiter, said switch is relfleased and opened; and also closing contactor 00a. l a

The momentary pressing and closing oiswltch 88 also establishes a second circuit, from lead 9! to lead 93, including switches 92 and 81, wire 96, switch 38, wire ill, relay coil lid, wire H2 and then closed contactors i200 and MM. This sec ond circuit energizes coil Ht, thereby closing contactor iifia to establish, with the closed contactor llllla, a bridge circuit around switch 88 and thus maintain said second circuit after switch 88 is released. The energizing of coil 6 l0 also opens contactor Hod, thereby assurin that relay coil I20, which, as hereinafter explained, serves as a primary control of the return strckeof the press. may not become energized while coil H0 is energizedto effect the advance stroke of the press.

The energizing of coil l in also-closes contactors M012 and illlc, completing a circuit from lead 9! to lead 93 through solenoid 66, thereby energizing the latter and causing the latters core to move upwardly and actuate the lever 10 to move the valve piston 49a to its lowermost position. 'When the piston is in the latter position the valve 69 directs the liquid output of the pump 50 into the advance chamber 53 to move the press slide l5 downwardly while liquid exhausted from the return chamber it passes through said valve to the Two things should be observed; first, that, 'because of the setting of the switch fill to run" position, there is no circuit through wire 98 or through toggle switches 28, 29, lamps 32, 31, or cells Si, 36 connected to said wire, and, hence, in automatic operation of the press, said enumerated elements are inactive regardless of the position of the nut it relatively to the press slide it; and, second, when the press slide is at rest at the top of its stroke and during its down-stroke, relay coil I30, is in energized condition, being in a circuit extending from main lead 9i through normally closed stop switch 92, relay coil I30, wire I31, normally closed limit switch '56, wire we, normally closed pressure switch 89, wire I33, and normally closed contactor I202? to main lead 93.

To start the automatic operation of the press, from its open position, button switch 83 is momentarily pressed and closed to establish a first circuit, from lead 9| to lead 93,-including stop switch 92, run-Jog switch 81, wire 94, down switch 88, wires llll, I02, relay coil I00, and wire I03.

' i9 with the operating arm of switch i6.

tank 52.

In the particular control system shown in Fig. 5, the extent of the down or advance stroke of the slide it may be limited either by pressure built up in advance chamber M, as by engagement of a blank between two dies having pressing portions working in a common vertical line, or by reason of the said slide having reached a predetermined position in its advance stroke in circumstances wherein, for example, the forming of the blank is accomplished by dies which partially telescope without materially raising the pressure in said advance chamber at the lower end of the press stroke. The mentioned pressure limitation of the advance stroke is controlled by the normally closed pressure switch 89 which is hydraulically connected in the pipe line i5 to render it responsive to the pressure in chamber 63 and the mentioned slide position limitation of the advance stroke is controlled by the normally closed limit switch it which may be opened by the dog 19 which, of course, is locked ln'such position on the rod 8| as to yield operation of the switch 16 at the desi ed point in the advance stroke of the press slide. It should be remembered that the switches 89 and 1B are in series in the electric circuit through relay coil i3d.

When the press slide reaches the point in its advance stroke at which the forming operation hasbeen completed, one or the other of switches 89, it, depending, ordinarily upon the predetermination of the omrator, will be opened by the accumulation of pressure in chamber 63 sufiicient to operate switch 89 or by engagement of the dog The opening of either of these switches breaks the circuit through relay coil ltd, deenergizing the latter and, in consequence, opening contactor IBM and closing contactor I361). The opening of contactor itiia breaks the described circuit through coil H0, thereby deenergizing the latter and, in consequence, opening contactor lilla, closing'contactor H041, and also opening contactors Hob, ll llc'to deenergize solenoid 66.

' c ses contactors IIIIb,

I22, relay coil I20, wire I23, then closed limit switch I4, wire I24, and then closed contactor 011. This circuit energizes coil I20, whereupon contactor 120a closes, to bridge contactor b, and contactors I20b-and I20c open. thus assuring that coils I20 and III will remain deenergized during the return stroke of the press. The energizing of coil I20 also closes contactors I20d and 'I20e thereby establishing a circuit from lead 9| to lead 90 through solenoid 61 and energizing theiatter.

- The mentioned deenergizing of solenoid 0B and the energizing of solenoid 61 so soon thereafter as to constitute almost simultaneous operation of the two, causes the valve piston 49a to move from its lowermost to its uppermost position to direct liquid from the pump 50 into the return chamber 44 to move the press slide upwardly while liquid from the advance chamber 43 passes through the valve 40 to the tank 52.

As the slide I starts to move upwardly the condition of pressing pressure in chamber 43 or of position of the slide I5, which operated one or the other of switches 16, 80 to terminate the advance stroke, no longer obtains and hence both said switches resume their closed setting in series in the circuit through coil I30 but that circuit is not completed during the return stroke of the slide due to the fact that contactor I20b is held open by coil I20 which is in energized condition to effect the return stroke of the slide.

As the slide I5 approaches the end of its return stroke, the dog I0 engages the operating arm of limit switch I5 and closes the latter thus establishing a connection through wires 95, 80, and

III between the wire I2I and one side of the coil IIO. A circuit through the latter coil, however,

is completed only when the slide, continuing to 1 the end of its return stroke, moves dog I1 into engagement with the operating arm. of limit switch I4 to open the latter and thereby open the circuit through coil I20 and deenergizing the latter.

The deenergizing of coil I20 opens contactors I20d and I20e to deenergize solenoid 61; also causes contactor I20b to close to complete the circuit through coil I30 and thus close contactor I I0a. The deenergizing of coil I20 also closes contactor I20c, thus establishing a circuit through coil I I0 from line 9i to line 90, including switches 02 and 01, wire 94,'contactor I00a, wires I2I and 05. switch 15, wires 90 and III, coil H0; wire H2 and contactors i200 and "0a. This circuit through coil IIO energizes the latter and thus IIO'c to again energize so enoid 06.

The energizing of solenoid 00 immediately after the mentioned deenergizing of solenoid 61 causes the valve piston 48a to again shift to its lowermost position to cause the pumped liquid to repeat the downward or advance movement of the press slide. The described automatic reversal of the stroke of the slide I5 at its opposite limits of movement thus causes the slide to reciprocate automatically until stopped by the momentary opening of press button switch 92 which breaks all circuits. After the button of switch 92 is released permitting the latter to close, all circuits remain broken, excepting the arctic operation), wire'IZI, contactor Iiiiib, wire through coil I20, thus preventing restarting of s the press except as'controlled by the operator in some suitable manner, as, for example, in the manner hereinbeiore described. Although it may seldom be desired to start the described automatic operation of the press from a condition-in which its slide is at rest at the bottom of its stroke, nevertheless, such operation may be started by momentarily pressing and closing button switch 91 which closes a, circuit through coil I20 to start the return stroke of the press in "the same manner as the described closing of switch 08 operated to close a circuit through coil I I0 to start automatic operation of the press from its open position. Automatic operation may be started from an intermediate slide position by closing either switch 88 to start operation with a downward slide movement or switch 91 to start operation with an upward slide movement.

Ordinarily it is desirable to start automatic operation of the press from itsopen position as hereinbefore described in detail and if the press slide is in any other'than its uppermost position it may readily be moved to its uppermost position by the inching control system the operation of which is described hereinafter in detail.

Semi-automatic operation of the press system If it is desired to have the press under semiautomatic control, wherein the slide may be caused to advance and automatically return to open position and then come to rest, it is only necessary for the operator to set and lock the dog I0 in the position indicated in broken lines,

in Fig. 5, on the sleeve 80. As thus set, the dog I0 will not operate the switch I5 on the return stroke of the slide I5 and consequently the described repeating circuit through coil "0 will not be established to againbring the solenoid 00 into operation to move the slide downwardly.

Thus, with the dog I8 set in the last indicated manner, the startingv of each operating cycle I (i. e., the starting of advance movement of the press slide) may be accomplished only by the closing of button switch 88 by the operator.

It may readily be perceived that, in either automatic or semi-automatic operation of the press system, as hereinbefore described, the strokes of the slide. I5 are relatively rapid and uninterrupted in contrast to inching operation, as here- 00 energizing of coil IIO with the resultant closing inafter described, wherein the advance and return movements of said slide may be minutely controlled both as to the speed and the extent of such movements. 1

Inching, operation of the press system The operation of the inching control system may best be understood by first observing from the foregoing description, and from Fig. 5, that of contactors H01) and IIOc is'necessary in order to energize solenoid 66 to cause the valve 49 to so direct pumped liquid as to move the press slide I5 downwardly and that energizing of coil I20 with the resultant closing of contactors I206 and I20e is necessary to energize solenoid 6'! to operate the valve 49 oppositely, to move the slide I5 upwardly.

It is helpful, also, to observe that when the 0 slide I5 is at the top of its stroke, open limit switch I4 renders it impossible, by any illustrated automatic or inching control means, to energize coil I20 to tend to urge the slide further upwardly: and, when said slide is at the bottom of circuit wits stroke, open limit switch I! or pressure switch sible for contactor i300 to close so that part of the setting of wire 89, lamp '32,

.89 or both said switches, render it impossible, by

any illustrated, automatic or inching control. f

means, to energize coil I30, and, hence, imposcoil Ill! may not be energized to tend to urge the slide further downwardly. The said switches, however, do not interfere with the operation of controls causing downward movement of the slide from its uppermost or an intermediate position or with the operation of controls causing upward movement of the slide from. its lowermost or an intermediate position.

'It may also be observed that in the connections between lead 93 and coils! l and I20, respectively, there are included normally closed contactors i200 and HM functioning as safeguards to prevent closing of acircuit through one of said coils when the other coil is energized. These contactors also function similarly assaie guards in automatic operation of the press.

Let it be assumed that the press slide it is at rest in its uppermost or in an intermediate position and that it is desired to move the slide downwardly an inch or a fraction thereof at, a time, withinabsolute control of the operator, as a dies in the press. The operator first sets the run-jog switch 8! at Jog position. This, through the medium of controls hereinafter described, causes the slide IE to move to and come to rest automatically at an aligned position relatively to the position the shutter 38 closes on the light paths from the lamps 32, 31 to related cells 3!, 36, respectively. The said slide is is in the mentioned aligned position, ex-

tends through incandescent lamps 32, 31,. from flead 9! to lead 93, including switches92 and 8?,

and wire' 90, from which two parallel circuits are carried to lead 9 I one parallel circuit extending through wire 88,

then closed toggle switch 28, and wireldll, to lead 93, and the other parallel circuit extending through wires 98 and idi, then closed toggle switch 29, wire M2, lamp 3?, and wire M0, to lead 93.

The operator then turns the handwheel 22, preferably quite slowly, to cause the nut l8 and the shutter 38 to move downwardly on the screw is. This causes the top edge of said shutter to move downwardly clear of the path permitting light rays to pass from lamp 32 to cell 3!, thus activating the latter to close a downward inching circuit from lead 9| 'to lead 93, including switches 32 and 81, wire 90, cell 3i, wire M3, coil H9, wire H2, and then closed contactors lflflc and little. This circuit energizes coil H0, thereby closing contactors Hllb and Hilc to energize solenoid 6t and cause the slide IE to move downwardly in the manner already described.

If the operator hasturnedthe wheel 22 only to such an extent as to cause a downward movement of the nut I 8 of, say, one inch, upon the screw IS, the press slide IS, in moving downwardly to the extent of one inch carries the cell assemblies to their original positions relatively to the nut, at that time, would ordinarily be at a point on the upper portion of 36, wire 1o shutter 38 so that light is again cut oil? from cell 3 i, thereby deactivating it to open the mentioned downward inching circuit through coil H0. The opening of said downward inching circuit deenergizes the coil H6 and opens contactors i I01; and liiic, thereby deenergizing'solenoid 66 and permitting spring 13 to restore valve piston 59a to its neutral position to bring the press slide to rest.

To inch the slide upwardly, the wheel 22 to move the nut extent of, say, three-fourths of an inch, carrying the bottom edge of shutter 38 upwardly clear of the path permitting light rays to pass from lamp 3? to cell 38, thus activating the latter to close an upward lead as,

the operator turns l8 upwardly to the including switches 92 and 81, wire 90, cell Md, coil I20, wire I23, limit switch it, wire 82%, and then closedcontactor Hod. This circuit energizes coil I20, thereby closing contactors lied and me to energize solenoid 61 and cause the slide it to move upwardly in the manher already described.

.30 traveling nut i8 in which establishes a lighting circuit which, 'when the Thereafter, the press slide i5, in moving upwardly to the same extent as .the upward movement of the nut it (three-fourths of an inch in the present illustration), carries the cell assemblies to their original positions relatively to the shutter 38 so that light is again cut oil from cell dd, thereby deactivating it to open the mentioned upward inching circuit through coil I287. The opening of said upward inching circuit deenergizes the coil I29 and opens contactors IZEId and woe, thereby deenergizing solenoid 57 and permitting spring 73 to restore valve piston tea. to its neutral position to bring the press slide to rest. I

The foregoing explanation presupposes that the operator will cause the nut E8 to move upwardly or downwardly only a short distance at a time or only slightly in advance of the press slide i5 which, in inching operation, will follow the nut. Recognizing the possibility, however, that an operator might turn the wheel 22 so rapidly as to cause the shutter to move far ahead of the press slide and consequently uncover both cells, rendering the inching controls inoperative for a time, the toggle switches 28, 29, shown in the drawings in closed positions indicated in full lines, are so arranged that if the nut l8 moves upwardly substantially in advance of the slide [5, the pin ti engages the operating arm of toggle switch 28 and opens the latter, the efi'ect of which, as may be seen from Fig. 5 is to break the circuit through lamp 32 and thus render cell 3| inoperative while cell 35 remains subject to lighted lamp 31. The follow-up movement of the slide 15 causes the switch 28 to be closed again as the slide approaches the position wherein the shutter again closes at? the light to both cells. The pin 4! functions in a similar manner to open switch 29 and render cell 3-6 inactive if the nut I8 is moved downwardly substantially in advance of the press slide and to close said switch again as the result of the follow-up movement of the press slide.

The described characteristic operation of the toggle switches 28, 29 serves to yield the previous- 1y mentioned automatic movement of the slide iii to aligned position relatively tothe nut l8 when the operator sets the switch 81. to jog position to start inching operation. It should be clear that, when the press is in running operation, the

toggle switch 29 is closed and the toggle switch 28 is opened by the pin 4! as the slide 15 moves downwardly to and below a position of substaninching circuit from lead M to cell 3| or 35, which -tion of movement of interrupted movements;

11 tial alignment relatively to the nut i8; and as the slide moves upwardly to and above such aligned position the said pin closes switch 28 and opensswitch 29. Hence, it the slide is notin the mentioned aligned position when the operator sets the switch 81 at "iog position, the mentioned setting of the latter switch serves to light only one otthe lamps 32 or 31 so that only the will yield the proper directhe slide to bring the latter to such aligned position, will be activated to automatically achieve such alignment. This automatic initial movement of the slide to aligned position, at the beginning of inching operation, is advantageous in facilitating operation of the press.

It is evident from the foregoing description that an operator of the disclosed pres system may convertthe controls, as between automatic or semi-automatic and inching operation, merely by shifting the setting oi run-iogswitch 81; also that the present invention affords such precise control of partial movements of the press slide that the latter may be caused to move to substantially the same minute extent that the nut. I! may be moved.

In order to render the disclosure of the present invention as free of complexities as possible, consistent with a complete understanding thereoi, the several photoelectric cells have been illustrated and described as connected directly in the circuits of the relay coils H8 and 120. Persons familiar with such cells will readily understand, however, tht photoelectric cells, suitable for use in the present invention, may be connected in circuit with suitable amplifiers and the latter may be connected in the circuits or the said relay coils.

The second embodiment Fig. 6 illustrates an arrangement wherein angularly disposed mirrors I", I may be fixed upon the extension 21 on one end of the press slide in such position that, except as closed oil by the shutter 38, light rays from the lamps 32,

31 may pass to their respective related cells 3|, 36, The cell 3| and its housing may be fixed for controlling the movement of said member,

7 comprising first operating means adapted to operate the said electrical control means to derive such normal operation of the tool-carrying member, and second operating means, adapted to-op-v erate said electricalcontrol means to derive inchin: operation of the tool-carrying member, the

. said second operating means having portions 'thereofconstrained at all son with said member, and an element, movable times to move in unimanually independently of the mentioned portions and arranged to coact with the latter, in response to such manual movement, to initiate movement of the'tool-carrying member and to coact with said portions in response to the latter movement of said member to terminate movement of the tool-carrying member.

2. In a fluid-actuated device having a, fluidactuated reciprocating tool-carrying member adapted 'in normal operation to execute relatively rapid uninterrupted movements; control means, including electrical apparatus, partly carried upon said member for controlling the movement of said member, comprising primary operating means adapted to operate the said control means to derive such normal operation of the toolcarrying member and secondary operating means adapted to operate said control means to derive manually limited movement of the tool-carrying member, the said secondary operating means including a second member manually movable independently of said tool-carrying member and adapted to coact with portions of said apparatus carried upon said tool-carrying member, in response to movement of the said second member, to operate said apparatus whereby to derive movement of the said reciprocating member to an extent dependent upon the extent of movement of said second member.

in a suitable position upon the crown l3 of the press and the cell 36 and its housing may be fixed in a suitable position, upon the bed ll of the press. The positioning of the cells on fixed portions of the press renders them less likely to be damaged by shocks and heavy vibrations which cepting the parts illustrated in Fig. 6, may be the same as those illustrated and described with reference to the first embodiment and may function in a similar manner.

It should be understood that this invention may 3. The combination according to claim 2, further characterizedin that said electrical apparatus includes a photoelectric cell, carried upon one of said members, and in that a shutter memother of said members ber is carried upon the and adapted to control the operation of said cell in response to relative movement of the said toolcarrying member and the mentioned second member.

4. The combination according to claim 2,

further characterized in that mechanically operable portions of said electrical apparatus are carried upon one of said members, and are adapted to be operated by a portion of the other of said members.

5; A hydraulically actuated device comprising a liquid-actuated 'reciprocable tool-carrying member adapted in normal operation to execute relatively rapid uninterrupted movements, electrical control means partly carried upon said member for controlling the initiation of supply of liquid, actuating said member, whereby to initiate movement of the latter and for controlling the termination of such liquid supply whereby to terurinate, the movement of said member, first oplie-employed in various types of press systems andmay be modified in many respects while, nev-' erthe'lessremaining within the invention as defined in-the following claims. a

What I claim is:

" in: Ina fluid-actuated device having afluid-actuated reciprocating tool-carrying member adapted in normal operation to execute relatively rapid unelectrical control meanserating means adapted to operate said electrical control means to derive such normal operation of the tool-carrying member, and second operating means comprising a second member operably movable, independently 'of ,said tool-carrying member under minute manual control, along a course substantially parallel to the course of movement of the latter member, and adapted to coact with portions of the electrical control means carried upon-said tool-carrying member in response to a variation in the relative positions of electrical the two said members, whereby to operate the electrical control means to start said tool-carrying member and stop it precisely at a desired intermediate point in its stroke.

' 6. A hydraulically actuated device comprising' a liquid-actuated reciprocable tool-carrying member adapted in normal operation to execute relatively rapid uninterrupted movements, electrical eontrol'means partly carried by said member for controlling the termiation of the supply of actuating liquid to said member, whereby to terminate the latters movement, first operating means adapted to operate said electrical control means to terminate the movement of said member at the end of a substantially full stroke, and second operating means, for operating said control means, comprising a second member operably movable, independently of said tool-carrying member under minute manual control, along a course substantially parallel to the course of movement of the latter member, and adapted to coact with portions of the said control means car ried upon said tool-carrying member, in response to movement of the latter to an extent dependent upon the extent of a preceding movement of said second member, whereby to terminate the move ment of the tool-carrying member precisely at'a desired intermediate point in its stroke.

7, In a hydraulically actuated device having a tool-carrying slide member adapted in normal operation to execute relatively rapid uninterrupted movements, ram means connected to and adapted to move said slide member, and'liquid control means for controlling the delivery of liquid to said ram ,whereby to control the movement of the slide member; primary control means, including electrical apparatus, for con-' the two members, to so influence said cell as to yield no resulting movement of the slide member, and being further adapted, upon movement of said second member from said relationship, to so influence said cell as to cause a. following movement .of the slide member to an extent dependent upon the extent of such movement of the said second member. F Y

10. A device according to claim 8, further characterized in that the said make and break mechanism comprises a pair of photoelectric cells, and the said second member has a shutter element mounted thereon and adapted, in said one relationship of the two members, to coact with both said cells to yield no resulting movement of the slide member, and being further adapted, upon movement of said second member in one direction from said one relationship, to so influence one of said cells as to cause a following movement of the slide member in the same direction, and

trolling the operation of the said liquid control I means to derive such normal operation, and secondary control means comprising a second member, operably movable relatively to' said slide member under minute manual control; portions of said electrical apparatus being carried by one of said members and being adapted to be operated, in response to relative movement of said two members, by a portion of the other of said members whereby to derive minutely controlled inching movement of said slide member.

. 8. In a hydraulically actuatedv device having a tool-carrying slidemember adapted in normal operation to execute relatively rapid uninterrupted movements, and a ram connected to and adapted to move said slide member control means. including electrical apparatus, for con-.

trolling the delivery of liquid to said ram whereby to control the movement of said slide member, first operating means adapted to'operate the said electrical, apparatus to derive such normal operation of the slide member, second operating means adapted to operate the said electrical anparatus to derive inching operation of the slide member; the said second operating means comprising a make and break mechanism, adapted to control said electrical apparatus, and a second member, operably movable relatively to'said slide member under minute manual control, and having a portion coacting with the make and break mechanism, in one relationship of the two members, to render the control means ineffective to yield movement of the slide member, and being adapted, upon movement of the said second member from said relationship, to coact with said make and break mechanism whereby -to cause a following movement of the slide memberito an adapted. upon movement of said second member in an opposite direction from said relationship to so influence the other of said cells as to cause a following movement of the slide member in the said opposite direction.

11. In a, hydraulically actuated device having a 'slide member, and 'a ram connected to and adapted to move said slide member; control means, including electrical apparatus, for controlling the delivery of liquid to said ram whereby to control the movement of said slide member, the said control means comprising a make and break mechanism, adapted to 'control said electrical. apparatus, a second member; operably movable relatively to said slide member, and having a, portion coacting with the make and break mechanism, in one relationship of the two members, to render the control means inefiective to yield movement of the slide member, and being adapted, upon movement of the said second member from said relationship, to coact with said make and break mechanism whereby to cause a following movement of the slide member to an extent dependent upon the extent of such movement of the'said second member, the said make and break mechanism, further, comprising two photoelectric cells adapted to control movement of the press slide in opposite-directions, a shutter element on said second memberadapted to control the activation and deactivation of said cells, separate switches, each connected in circuit with one of said cells, and'a portion of said second member adapted, when the shutter element changes the condition of one of said cells, to' operate the said switch in circuit. with the other of said cells, whereby to render the latter nonresponsive to the shutter element.

I 12. In a hydraulic presshaving a reciprocating tool-carrying slide, adapted in normal operation to execute relatively rapid uninterrupted movemerits, and a ram connected to and adapted to move said slide; primary control means for yielding such normal operation, inching control means comprising an electrical make and break mechan sm carried by said slide and adapted'to coact with said primary control means to control the 'inchinr. movement of the slide, a rotatable screw extending substantially parallel to the line of movement'oi said slide, a nut threaded upon said screw and restrained against rotation whereby to be moved along said screw under minute control in response to rotation thereof, and a portion of said nut being adapted, upon such movement of the latter from an initial relationship to the slide,

' mentioned portion of said nut comprising a.shutto coact with said make and break mechanism to V initiate a following movement of the slide, and

, further adapted, upon movement of the slide to an extent dependent upon the movement of the nut, to again coact with said make and break mechanism whereby to terminate such following movement. I

13. Control means according to claim 12, further characterized in that the make and brake mechanism comprises a-photoelectric cell adapted to control the movement of the press slide, and the mentioned portion of said nut comprises a shutter element adapted to "control the passage of light to said cell in response to relative movement of the said nut and the press slide.

14. In a hydraulic press having a reciprocating slide, and a ram connected to and adapted to move said slide; inching control mechanism comprising an electrical make and break mechanism movement of the slideito an extent dependent upon the movement of the nut, to again coast with said make and break mechanism whereby to terminate such following movement, the said make and break mechanism comprising a pair of make and break devices adapted to control the movcment'of the press slide in opposite directions, the inching control mechanism also including separate switches, each connected in circuit with one of said make and break devices, and the said -nut also comprising a second portion adapted,

when said nut is moved in one direction, to coact with the switch in circuit with the device controlling movement-of the slide in the opposite direction, to render the last mentioned of said devices non-responsive to further movement of said nut.

15. In a hydraulic press having a reciprocating slide, and a ram connected to and adapted to move said slide; inching control mechanism comprising an electrical make and break mechanism carried by said slide and adapted to control the movement thereof, a rotatable screw extending substantially parallel to the line of movement of said slide; a nut threaded upon said screw and restrained against rotation whereby to be moved along said screw in response to rotation thereof, and a portion of said nut being adapted, upon such movement of the letter from an initial relationship to the slide, to coact with said make and break mechanism to initiate a following movement of the slide, and further adapted, upon movement of the slide to an extent dependent upon the movement of the nut, to again coact with said make and break mechanism whereby to terminate such following movement, the said make and break mechanism comprising a pair of 1 photoelectric cells adapted to control the 'movement of the press slide in opposite directions,

. ter element adapted to control the passage or light to said cells in response to-relative movement of the said nut and the press slide, the inching control mechanism including separate switches, each connected in circuit with one of 'said cells, and

the said nut comprises a second portion adapted, substantially when one oi said cells is rendered efiective to derive movement of the press slide, to

coact with the switch in circuit with the other of said cells, to render the latter non-responsive to continued movement of said nut.

16. In a hydraulic press having a reciprocating slide, a ram connected to and adapted to move 7 said slide, and a hydraulic system adapted to direct liquid under pressure upon either of opposite surfaces of said ramto derive movement of the press slide in either of opposite directions; electrical inching control means for controlling the hydraulic system to derive such opposite slide movements comprising a pair of photoelectric cells carried by said slide and adapted to selectively control the said electrical means to yield such opposite slide movement, a rotatable screw extending substantially parallel to the line of movement of said slide, a nut adapted to move.

along said screw in response to rotation of the latter, a shutter element carried by said nut and adapted to control the passage of light to said cells, separate switches, each connected in circuit with one of said cells, and a switch-actuating element carried by said nut, whereby movement of said nut from an initial position relatively to said slide renders one of said cells operative to yield a followin similar direction, actuating element to coact with the switch in circuit with the-other of said cells, to render the latter non-responsive to continued movement of said nut.

17. A fluid-actuated device havin a fluidactuated reciprocating tool-carrying member adapted in normal operation to execute relatively rapid uninterrupted movements and electrical means for controlling the normal operation and movement of the slide in a the inching operation of said member, the said control means comprising photoelectric means constrained at all times to move in unison with said member and adapted to coact with said electrical means to yield inching operation or said member, light-source means disposed imposition to throw light uponsaid photoelectric means, a

second member manually-movable independently of said tool-carrying member,and a shutter constrained at all times to move in unison with said second member and adapted 'to control the passage of light to said sponse to movement of said second member, to

yield a following movement of said tool-carrying member to an extent dependent upon the said movement of the second member. t

18. A fluid actuated device comprising a fluid actuated reciprocating tool-carrying member; controls, including electrical apparatus, for controlling the inching operation of said device; controls for controlling operation other than inching operation of said device in which other operation .the said die-carrying member. is adapted to execute relatively rapidv uninterrupted movements; and readily changeable means for converting control of the device as'between the mentioned types of operation thereof; the said inching operation controls including a member, operably movable independently of theisaid toolthe carrying member under minute manual control.

and causes the said switchphotoelectric means in rei7 and adapted to coact with portions of said electrical apparatus in response to relative movement of the two said members, whereby to control minutely the inching movement of the said tool-carrying member, the device being further characterized in that the mentioned inching operation controls comprise a photoelectric cell assembly, which, when the said reciprocating member is in a position other than in substantial alignment relatively to said independently movable member, is adapted to cause movement v of the said reciprocating member to such aligned position, in response to changing of the said control converting means to a condition controlling inching operation of the device.

19. A fluid actuated device comprising a fluid actuated reciprocating tool-carrying member; controls, including electrical apparatus, for controlling operation other than inching operation of said device in which other operation the said die-carrying member is adapted to execute relatively rapid uninterrupted movements and readily changeable means for converting control of the device as between the mentioned types of operation thereof; the said inching operation controls including a member, operably movable independently of the said tool-carrying member under minute manual control, and adapted to coact with portions of said electrical apparatus in response to relative movement of the two said members, whereby to control minutely the inching movement of the said tool-carrying member, the device being further characterized in that the mentioned inching operation controls comprise two photoelectric cells adapted to control movement of the tool carrying member in opposite directions, a shutter carried by said independently movable member and adapted to control the passage of light to said cells, and separate switches, each connected in circuit with one of said cells; a portion of the said independently movable member being adapted to open one of said switches to render inoperative the cell in circult therewith when the tool-carrying member moves in one direction beyond a position of substantial'alignment with the independently movable member, and to open the other of said switches to render inoperative the cell in circuit therewith when the tool-carrying member moves in the other direction beyond a position of substantial alignment with the independently movable member, thereby leaving, subject to activation, only the one cell adapted to control the movement of the tool-carrying member in the direction which, when the control converting means are shifted to the setting yielding inching operation, causes the tool-carrying member to move automatically to a position of substantial alignment with the mentioned independently movable member. 20. The combination, in a fluid-actuated device having a fluid-actuated reciprocating tool-carrying member and means for controlling the flow of fluid to said device for governing the movement of said member; of an electrical device for. operating said flow-control means to start and stop the said member, an electric circuit through said electrical device, first circuit-control means adapted to operate said circuit substantially upon termination of a stroke of said member whereby to control the operation of said electr.cal device to stop said member, and second circuit-control means having a first portion manually movable independently of said tool-carrying member, and a second portion constrained at all times to move in unison with the tool-carrying member, 'the said second circuit-control means being adapted to operate said circuit at any intermediate point in the stroke of said member, in response to relative movement of the mentioned two portions of the second circuit-control means, whereby to operate the said electrical device to derive intermediate movement of said member to an extent dependent upon the extent of independent movement of said second circuit-control means.

21. The combination according to claim 20, further comprising an electric selection switch adapted to render either. of said circuit-control means operative and the other thereof inoperative.

22. The combination according to claim 20, further characterized in that the mentioned second portion of the second circuit-control means comprise photoelectric means adapted to modify said electric circuit to control the operation of said electrical device and said flow-control means, and the said first portion o'i the second circuitcontrol means comprises a shutter adapted to control the passage of light to the photoelectric means.

23. The combination, in a fluid-actuated device having a fluid-actuated reciprocable tool-carrying member and means for varying the flow of fluid to said device for governing the reciprocation of said member; of electrically operable means for operating said flow-varying means to derive movement of said member in opposite directions, an electric system associated with said operating means, first circuit-control means adapted to operate said system whereby to control the operation of said operating means to derive uninterrupted movement of the member through a substantially full stroke in either of opposite directions, and second circuit-control means including photoelectric means and shutter means, coacting therewith, one of the two last recited means being constrained at all times to move with the toot-carrying member, and the other of said two last recited means being manually movable independently of said toolcarrying member in opposite directions, and adapted to modify the-operation of said photoelectric means, and thereby operate said system, at any point in the stroke ofsaid tool-carrying member in either direction, in response to relative movement of said shutter means and the tool-carrying member, whereby to derive movement of the latter member to an extent and direction independent upon the extent and direction of independent movement of said independently movable means.

EARL CANNON. 

